I just wanted to get your advice and thought this was the perfect place to go.
My friend is in her first year of nursing school and has become really depressed and sad. She has been crying a lot and has never acted this way before and doesn't want to go out anywhere or do anything fun. She has seen a psychiatrist and therapist and is even taking pills to treat her depression. She seems like she doesnt really know what to do with her life. I was just wondering what I can do to help her and if this is normal? Are nurses out there actually taking pills for depression? And if my friend is depressed in just her first year, isn't nursing supposed to get harder? so what then?
You said she is still in nursing school. So she probably has not seen too much of the sad things that happen in nursing. Perhaps the depression is more related to the abundance of school work and studying she has. Then add on any job she has, bills, family life. OH and not getting to spend time with friends.
I'm in my first year of NS and many times i'm a wreck..... it's so stressful... the workload and seeing patients in the conditions they're in. I'm in my 20's and emotionally I feel very affected seeing people suffer. It really drags me down sometimes.... i guess i'm just hoping my time will come when i guess i'm not as "shocked" by it.
Are nurses out there actually taking pills for depression?
It saddens me that there is still a stigma attached to antidepressants. There are patients for whom these medications are medically necessary, and being a nurse doesn't exempt someone from being a patient on occasion:)
If someone has asthma, for example, they may need a regularly prescribed medication regimen to manage their asthma... along with learning breathing techniques and watching out for their triggers. The same thinking can be applied to someone who is depressed, they may need medication to rebalance their brain chemicals, along with counseling (learning behavior modification techniques) and watching out for their triggers (not enough self care).
When I was in Nursing school, I was going through a divorce. It was not easy. I was depressed, but I had a strong support from my family. Your friend needs to continue to go to counseling and you need to be there when she wants to talk. She could have some underlying problems that you are not aware of and don't push it until she is ready to talk to you about it. I do agree encourage her to continue nursing school. When she is finished, it will be like a big weight is removed from her back and she will look back and laugh (I hope) I will pray for your friend.
I am at the end of my 1st year of nursing school & it is one of the hardest things I have ever done!!! Your brain is on overload with all the information, your teachers are watching every move you make, your peers are checking out the competition, you are sleep deprived & if you are not in shape your body hurts!!! If your friend has a tendency to have depression, nursing school can put you over the edge!! Support your friend!! Nursing school is not forever, but having her degree will help her with a life time of success!!!!!
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
I'm in my first year of NS and many times i'm a wreck..... it's so stressful... the workload and seeing patients in the conditions they're in. I'm in my 20's and emotionally I feel very affected seeing people suffer. It really drags me down sometimes.... i guess i'm just hoping my time will come when i guess i'm not as "shocked" by it.
Honey, I hope the day never comes when you are not as shocked by the suffering of a patient. While you do get to the point where experience can give you a hand in dealing with a very sad case, it never gets easier. This is what makes you human. The day that you see a patient suffering and are not moved by it is the day that you should hang up your stethoscope. I have seen many nurses who are so demoralized by life that they are unmoved by a suffering patient. God help me, I hope that I never have one of these nurses as my own one day.
Nursing is everything you can think of, and yes it can be very sad in many cases. I agree with many comments. Perhaps you can direct your friend to Allnurses.com maybe she herself can post. I've recommended many people to check this site out.
I remember in '04, At a point in school I was overwhelmed! I've seen my peers cry, go through divorce, myself griefed over a friend/neighbor who was murdered apt right above mine. It was hard. Life is hard. Not everyone has the skills to react to challenges. Some can't understand that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I am curious to view her challenges, again, have her post here and we'll give her tools such as guidance, wisdom, and support.
No, nursing is not supposed to be sad. I think a lot of it has to do with one not knowing what to expect until they are in the situation. I think when we see others sick, suffering, or even dying, that we can't help but relate the patients to our own lives. When I started my first year nursing clinicals at the nursing home, I couldn't help but come home and cry. I didn't know I would cry so much for not even knowing these patients, and ask myself how do these nurses and staff deal with the sick and dying everyday. As I got more exposure, I realized that everyone at some point learn to deal with it themselves. We all learn to put up a shield and just not let it get to us. Though it can be hard as you get to know these patients better, it's tough but for me, I remind myself that I'm there to help them get better and there are happy endings in nursing. :redpinkhe
I am at the end of my 1st year of nursing school & it is one of the hardest things I have ever done!!! Your brain is on overload with all the information, your teachers are watching every move you make, your peers are checking out the competition, you are sleep deprived & if you are not in shape your body hurts!!! If your friend has a tendency to have depression, nursing school can put you over the edge!! Support your friend!! Nursing school is not forever, but having her degree will help her with a life time of success!!!!!
I agree. Nursing school is hard and stressful. There is subtle competition, and if your big on achievement like many nursing students are, there is added pressure. No one wants to do bad or look like their the one who can't keep up. Like debsmommy said, you don't have time to get fit or sleep. Nursing school can be depressing cause it only gets harder - it never gets easier. As your moving through you keep hearing about how its only going to get worse. This is not very encouraging. The motto of nursing school is so much info, so little time. Does your friend have any other issues that might make her unhappy? For example, I am homesick and have other depressing hangups which don't lend themselves to having a genuinely happy time in school. Your friend might just find nursing school to be "the straw that broke the camel's back." I hope she does feel better though! Like debsmomy said though, her degree will bring her a lifetime of success, though I know that light at the end of the tunnel can seem like a longs way off when your unhappy.
Laughter is wonderful medicine. Funny and sweet emails are always nice to get from a friend. Maybe you could watch a funny movie together sometime or even just recommend a really good funny movie if you can't seem to get together. Walking might be fun, too. Anything to get those endorphins going.
It certainly isn't the end of the world if your friend decided to change directions, even to another type of health care work if she wants. Everything is still wide open for her. She has so many opportunities either in nursing or not. She sounds like a 'tough' chick with lots of 'skills' for seeking the help she already has. :redpinkhe
I am a R.N. who suffers severe depression and when I was in training it definitely made it worse. I had no confidence in my abilities, even though my marks were good. It took one of the faculty to sit me down and tell me that I was gonna be a great nurse and not to quit! If her marks are ok, then maybe she is like me and sets such high standards, and is soooo afraid of failing that she becomes overwhelmed with it all! Tell her it is a challenging program, but not to give up, as it will all come together ! Esp. in her second yr. Things that don't make sense now, will just click ! Good luck!
ObtundedRN, BSN, RN
428 Posts
You said she is still in nursing school. So she probably has not seen too much of the sad things that happen in nursing. Perhaps the depression is more related to the abundance of school work and studying she has. Then add on any job she has, bills, family life. OH and not getting to spend time with friends.